AFCA Board votes in favor of 24-team CFP, elimination of conference championship games

Key Points:

• The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) board has voted to support significant changes to college football, including a potential expansion to a 24-team College Football Playoff and the elimination of conference championship games.
• The AFCA also recommended that the College Football Playoff conclude by the second week of January and proposed reducing the minimum days between games to no fewer than six to address the length of the season.
• The 12-team College Football Playoff format, introduced in 2024-25, will see further adjustments in the upcoming season, including automatic bids for the Power Four conferences and Notre Dame if ranked in the Top 12.
• Expansion to a 24-team playoff remains under discussion, with some coaches like Tennessee’s Josh Heupel supporting it, while others such as Georgia’s Kirby Smart remain uncertain; the Big Ten previously circulated a 24-team proposal eliminating conference championship games.
• The AFCA emphasized the need to modernize the college football season structure to better serve student-athletes and ensure a more timely and sustainable schedule.